Mellor: There's a way back for Sterling at Liverpool

Raheem Sterling of Liverpool competes with Martin Kelly and Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on May 16, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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I have to admit, I do wonder sometimes why young players allow agents to exert such a big influence on their careers.

Raheem Sterling is at a wonderful football club. It’s one where he is surrounded by fantastic, supportive and expert staff both at Melwood and at the Academy in Kirkby, where his talents were first nurtured and developed at Liverpool.

They are such good people who know what is best for him in my book. And if he could bring himself to listen to them, to trust them to look after and develop him, then we wouldn’t be where we are this week.

The second point I’d make right now is that Raheem has fabulous natural ability and can go on to be a top player on the world stage. But undoubtedly the biggest barrier to talented young players realising their potential are distractions. And he’s had several of them in the last few weeks over this contract stand off and what his agent Aidy Ward has said and done.

I never had an agent and I didn’t want one. I used to let the PFA look after me and when there was talk of a contract being offerd to me, I would let the club and the PFA through Gordon Taylor handle everything. At least when the PFA are involved the money stays in the game and the player gets well looked after by people who have the game’s best interests at heart, as well as his.

I wish more players would use the PFA. One who does is James Milner, who has been linked with us and had a great career. You never hear negative and disrupting headlines likes this about James.

Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe of Liverpool in action during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on May 14, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Jordon Ibe is letting his family look after him and while Raheem may not be in the same position, I hope he thinks long and hard about what to do now.

There is a way back for him with Liverpool and these wonderful supporters at Anfield. If he admits he has made a mistake, realises what a great club he is at, trusts it and parts company with his agent, then all this can disappear and be sorted out.

It’s not beyond repair with Liverpool. Football is a strange game at times, but these things can be healed if you just trust the club you are at.

Last chance to see Stevie off with a win

You should always aim to finish as high as you can and while many people today see our game at Stoke as a match with nothing riding on it, that's not quite true.

Depending on results we could finish fifth, sixth or seventh. And after defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, I hope for Steven Gerrard’s sake his last game ends in victory.

Football - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Barclays Premier League - Anfield - 16/5/15 Liverpool's Steven Gerrard applauds fans as he walks on the pitch with his family after his final game at Anfield Reuters / Phil Noble

Stevie has had a two weeks when he’s done a lot of talking –and had people talking about him. It can’t have been easy for him but, typically, he has handled it all with dignity and class.

It was touching to see his tribute to the supporters after the Palace game. In turn he can be in no doubt what the fans feel for him - and always will.

Stoke will be tough but let’s hope we sign off with a win and whilst Stevie would have hoped for so much more in his final season, let’s at least hope if he does play its a winning end to his Liverpool career.

Coutinho deserves Player of the Year honour

I was delighted to see Philippe Coutinho named the Player of the Year at Liverpool’s Annual Awards night.

There may not have been too many outstanding candidates after a disappointing season but he deserved the honour for sure.

Philippe is at a club where he has the chance to becone a world class player.

If we can just get more movement ahead of him and a striker to put the ball in the back of the net, then he and the team can come on a long way yet.

What I like about him is his attitude as well as his natural Brazilian flair and ability on the ball.

Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool receiving an award from John Barnes and Steve Mcmanaman of Liverpool during the Liverpool Player of the Year Awards on May 19, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

This is a lad who came here from a big club in Italy where it was not working out. He is a South American boy and has had to make big adjustments - such as getting used to our climate and the language. Yet he’s come out of his comfort zone and always plays with such energy and an obvious love of the game.

In a world where football is increasingly seen by some as just a business, his attitude is really refreshing.

He has expressed his gratitude today to Brendan Rodgers for bringing him on so well and that is a nice touch.

He clearly has a lot of respect for the Liverpool manager and believes that if fans are patient with him and back the boss, then success will come.

Brendan will know we need to make the top four next season and hopefully win a trophy too, otherwise the presusre will be there.

But Coutinho for one is in no doubt about Brendan’s ability as a boss.